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August 28, 2013

Pat Robertson Claims Gays Transmit HIV by Cutting With Rings

Christian televangelist and former presidential candidate Pat Robertson said gay men in San Francisco try to transmit HIV intentionally by cutting people with rings when they shake hands, Right Wing Watch reports. He made his remarks on The 700 Club, which is produced by his Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) and airs on ABC Family.

“You know what they do in San Francisco, some in the gay community there they want to get people so if they got the stuff they’ll have a ring, you shake hands, and the ring’s got a little thing where you cut your finger,” Robertson said. “Really. It’s that kind of vicious stuff, which would be the equivalent of murder.”

His remarks were made at the end of a segment in which he was responding to a question from a woman about AIDS. CBN edited his remarks out of the version it posted online. CBN had the original YouTube clip of his remarks taken down, but click here to watch The Huffington Post version.

In a statement to clarify his remarks, Robertson said: “In my own experience, our organization sponsored a meeting years ago in San Francisco where trained security officers warned me about shaking hands because, in those days, certain AIDS-infected activists were deliberately trying to infect people like me by virtue of rings which would cut fingers and transfer blood … [M]y remarks [weren’t] meant as an indictment of the homosexual community or, for that fact, to those infected with this dreadful disease.”

(Note: The POZ team reviews all comments before they are posted. Please do not include either ":" or "@" in your comment. The opinions expressed by people providing comments are theirs alone. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Smart + Strong, which is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by people providing comments.)

Andrew, Dundee, 2013-11-25 08:54:26
Hi,
The claim by Pat Robertson is outrageous and I thought here they go again!
But then, to the right of the article is an advert about 'Kinekt Gear Rings' - which do look like you could easily get skin trapped in, when shaking the hand of someone wearing them! I not suggesting people would do this deliberately but Just saying!

Ron, Knoxville Tn, 2013-11-13 20:55:46
I only hope God forgives him for his all out ignorance. I do and I'm HIV POZ. HIV effects all walks of life, it has no eyes nor does it distinguish one straight person from one gay person. Pat Robertson should read up on anything he plans to discuss on or off the air. Rings indeed! Shame on you Pat Robertson!

WZZ, NYC, 2013-11-06 13:19:15
I believe him.

Frederick Wright-Stafford, Jacksonville, 2013-11-04 08:32:13
HIV seems to always brings up sex with Gay people being the focus of STDs or a scrap goat, where Hep C the straight AIDS many are not addressing in the Christian teachers of Elders like Rev Pat. Rev Pat seems like he wants to have a conversation more like Dr Ruth, as an adult, about sexual pleasure in his inching to communicate about organisms within his TV viewers or Healthier Sex for Christians and Gays too. I wonder at his age if he is having good Sex and Thanking God for a good organism?

Frederick Wright-Stafford, Jacksonville,FL, 2013-11-03 07:35:47
RJ, yes my name is Frederick Wright and let me help you out on me seeing a prick ring for I do not support the concept of any Gay group planning to use the prick ring. However, you can go to Spencer Gifts in the local Mall and see a ring that is a Prick Ring. That is what I meant by seeing one, never did I think a plan attack by some nut was in the making. However, since we're speaking in theory the live Hep C virus can last 30 days outside the body and you are right the HIV notion is sissy.

Rev. Savalas R. Squire Sr., Winston-Salem, 2013-10-21 20:31:46
As outrageous as his comments are, whats even more outrageous is the number of persons within the Christian community who voice this same ideology; that being that all persons living with HIV are, in some way, driven by the sinful lust of their flesh to engage in reckless sexual activity, and then seek out others to infect by means of rings, needles, gas pump devices, etc. This is why the fight against the stigma associated with HIV is one which we all must take serious and never surrender.

Skip Berne, Cambridge Md., 2013-10-02 16:56:22
Even a 5th grader or congressman knows that passing HIV with magic decoder rings was banned by the intergalactic LGBT council decades ago. So you should not worry....

Frederick Wright, Coachella Valley, 2013-09-04 08:46:05
Come out guys, He one man that has convictions, and many parents are straight and have a conviction for their children not to get missed up and Gay people in some circles have axcess to great education systems provided by many heterosexuals too. Clearly their are many damage Gay Folks and lot of lesbians. Leaving a life of spiting out anger is not cool, been their, lets forgive and start the reconciliation process the debate has change, no excuses ones restore Honor, Integrity and Heal. Come out

jermaine, conroe, 2013-09-03 13:19:21
The only thing "dreadful" is his constant comdemnation of gays. The very people god wants him to save he scorns with bitterness and disdain.

marc, Kansas city, 2013-08-30 19:58:57
Just like he transmits a disease from his lips.... daily. Oh, wait... that is fact.

Raymond Hilerio, Bethlehem, 2013-08-29 23:41:26
Why are you reporting what this man says, we all know he's a lunatic who preaches hate towards the gay community.

Bobie C, Brooklyn, NY, 2013-08-29 20:57:48
He is uninformed, perhaps even ignorant. The problem is he is on his soap box spewing crazy conspiracy stuff from years ago. Boycotting the channel he is aired on isn't useful, as CBN pays to be on that (and other) networks. I WAS a partner with CBN, and was considering increasing my monthly pledge. Glad I saw this when I did. I just cancelled my membership. His loss, is a gain for the Wounded Warrior Project. I encourage other partners to consider re-evaluating their charitable giving.

RJ, , 2013-08-29 19:39:37
Frederick Wright, I lived in San Francisco. There is no such thing as a "prick ring." So, how can you claim to have seen one? Use some logic and common sense, it would not even work as there as to be a two way open, bleeding wound. HIV dies as soon as it hits the air. PLEASE stop defending these "people" to a community long tormented by the Protestants, Catholics, & Easter Orthodox Church. I was denied communion and a blessing by a bishop for being poz. I am now a Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist.

RJ, , 2013-08-29 19:13:33
Since we are on the topic of Christians spreading lies and hate, Please let me inform you what I saw on EWTN Catholic network. Fr. Mitch Pacwa said to the whole world that watches EWTN that, and I quote, "Virtually 100% of gay men carry and spread disease. Up to 70% have HPV and some 40 diseases are spread by gay men." He went on to say that he counsels gays to be celibate so as not to continue infecting others. I am fed up with these monstrous clerics.

Nate, Austin, TX, 2013-08-29 16:18:06
Pat Robertson has once again proved what an idiot he is.